fascinating museum displays » by Beth Anzell
Building Titans Needless to say, New York City, as the world’s “first and foremost vertical metropolis” (as it is described on The Skyscraper Musem’s website), certainly deserves a museum that pays homage to its architecture. The Skyscraper Museum (left) takes a close look at how this city has evolved—and its evolving skyline, noting the changes and innovations in technology, design and more. Some of the permanent exhibits include it’s Mini-Manhattan Models: detailed, handcarved wooden miniature models of Downtown and Midtown; scale models of Hats Off to Harlem the world’s three tallest The Studio Museum in Harlem, which buildings; a mural depictopened in 1968, has earned worldwide ing the history of height; recognition for promoting the works of and The Rebuilding of artists of African descent. Besides its Ground Zero. » The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place, 212.968.1961
A Bartow Beauty Built between 1836 and 1842 by publisher Robert Bartow, the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (above) has the distinguished honor of being both a New York City and a national landmark. The manor was Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia’s summer office and opened as a public museum in 1947. The stone mansion, which has decorated Greek Revival interiors and a grand spiral staircase, offers guided and group tours, garden strolls, trail hikes and special events. » Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, 895 Shore Road, Bronx, 718.885.1461
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permanent collection—which includes Dawoud Bey’s “A Man in a Bowler Hat,” (below, 1976)—the museum offers rotating exhibitions, an artist-inresidence program, dialogues, lectures, performances and more. » The Studio Museum in Harlem, 144 W. 125th St., 212.864.4500
Movie Mania
The Museum of the Moving Image is all about the screen—the big screen (film), the little screen (television) and, more recently, the screens of digital media, so prevalent in our world today. The museum shows some 400 films a year, classic and contemporary, in its own theater (left). In addition, one can view artifacts and artworks all related to the moving image. » Museum of the Moving Image 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, Queens, 718.777.6888
photos: the skyscraper museum, courtesy of robert polidori; dawoud bey, “A man in a bowler hat,” 1976, courtesy of the studio museum in harlem; sumner M. Redstone theater in the museum oF the moving image, photo by peter aaron/esto/ courtesy of museum of the moving image; bartow-pell mansion, courtesy of richard warren
on exhibit
for details on other museums, turn to museums (p. 78) or visit innewyork.com
10/15/13 2:51:25 PM